Meaghan E. Swensen, ’00 DVM, Lindstrom, Minn., died February 27 at 46. Before completing her DVM at the CVM, Swensen completed her BS in biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1995. She practiced small animal veterinary medicine at Lakes Veterinary and Surgical Center in Lindstrom, Minn., for 17 years. Swensen loved and rescued retired racing greyhounds, volunteering many hours for Minnesota Greyhound Rescue. She is survived by her husband, Jeremy; and 3 children.

Wes G. Schroeder, ’64 DVM, Minnetonka, Minn., died January 27 at 82. Schroeder grew up on a farm near Bemidji, Minn., and was one of six children. He was the first in his family to attend college. He was active in the Beltrami County 4-H Club. Upon graduating from Bemidji High School in 1954, Schroeder joined the U.S. Army, serving as a medic in the 82nd Airborne Division. After serving for two years, he attended the University of Minnesota on the GI Bill, earning a bachelor of science in veterinary medicine in 1962. While in college, he spent his summers working as a smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service in McCall, Idaho.

After finishing his DVM at the CVM, Schroeder taught large animal veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and then Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. In 1966, he opened one of the first equine-specific veterinary practices in Minnesota and ran it on his own out of his home in Wayzata for four years before cofounding Minnesota Equine Associates Ltd. in 1972 in Maple Plain, Minn. Schroeder served the community as a dedicated equine veterinarian for nearly 48 years.

During his career, Schroeder was active in many national, state, and local equine organizations and committees, including acting as president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) in 1979. While president of the MVMA, he administered the Veterinarian’s Oath at the CVM commencement ceremony. He also served as the chairman of public relations for MVMA, the first president of the Minnesota Association of Equine Practitioners, the president of the MVMA Academy of Veterinary Medical Practice, and the president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Alumni Association.

In 1981, Schroeder was honored as Horseman of the Year by the Minnesota Horse Council. His lifelong career reflected a dedication of time and energy to many equine areas, including participating in endurance and competitive trail riding in the upper midwest, mentoring equine veterinary students, and teaching horse health manment classes throughout the region. Schroeder was also a national award winner in competitive mounted orienteering in 1985. He is survived by 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

A Memorial Open House was held at the University of Minnesota Leatherdale Equine Center on Saturday, February 23. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to the Strike Zone "Striker" Memorial Equine Scholarship at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. If you have questions about this fund, contact Mindy Means, development officer at the CVM, at 612-626-5482 or mkmeans@umn.edu.

Donald A. Schmidt, DVM, ’50 MS, PhD, Columbia, Mo., died December 29 at 96. Schmidt received a master of science degree in veterinary pathology from the University of Minnesota while on a fellowship with the Mayo Clinic in 1950. In the same year, he accepted a position as veterinarian for the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, where he was the first full-time veterinarian employed by the zoo. In 1953, he accepted the position of assistant professor in veterinary pathology at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. He became certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1959. He completed a PhD degree in veterinary pathology from Michigan State University in 1961, and in 1966, he accepted a position as professor of veterinary pathology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri–Columbia. Schmidt became one of nine who successfully passed the first national certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in veterinary clinical pathology in 1972. He retired in 1992 as professor emeritus and continued working part-time for the pathology department until he was 80 years old. During his teaching career, Schmidt received the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award four times. In 2005, Schmidt was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. He is survived by 3 children, 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

Harvey A. Olson, ’56 DVM, Enid, Okla., died January 1 at 91.

Sheldon G. Malmedal, ’73 DVM, Linton, N.D., died January 5 at 71. After completing his DVM, he moved to Dickinson, N.D., and practiced veterinary medicine until 1975 when he moved to Linton, N.D., and began the Linton Veterinary Practice Malmedal. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; 4 children; and 13 grandchildren.

Dean F. Johnson, ’55 DVM, ’62 DDS, North Mankato, Minn., died January 22 at 87. While pursuing graduate studies at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, Johnson was inducted into the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant and was stationed at the Chaumont Air Base in Chaumont, France. There, he served as chief food and water inspector and cared for military sentry dogs. After leaving France, Johnson entered the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, graduating in 1962. He then moved to Mankato, where he began a private dental practice for 44 years. Johnson fulfilled 20 years of military service through the U.S. Army Reserve and the U.S. Army National Guard. He served as the first-ever chief dental officer of the Minnesota National Guard and retired from the Army as a full colonel. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; 5 children; 19 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Dean H. Franz, ’71 DVM, Northfield, Minn., died February 7 at 72. Franz practiced dairy veterinary medicine. He is survived by his wife, Pam; 5 children; and 9 grandchildren.

George K. Bacon, ’58 DVM, Farmington, Minn., died December 18 at 86. He is survived by his wife, Kelly; 3 children; and 5 grandchildren.

Ronald D. Anderson, ’61 DVM, ’64 MPH, San Antonio, Tex., died December 28 at 87. After receiving his DVM, Anderson joined the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, where he directed and mand food safety, quality assurance, veterinary public health, and animal medicine programs at all levels of command. While assigned to the Academy of Health Sciences Veterinary Science Division, he was also an associate professor of Health Sciences at Baylor University and adjunct professor in the Department of Health Measurement Sciences at Tulane University. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1970. Anderson received numerous awards and recognitions for achievements in veterinary medicine and public health, including the Surgeon General "A" Prefix Award for professional excellence in the field of veterinary public health, the Keith L. Ware Award for Special Television Achievement for the production of Wildlife Disease Surveillance of Military Reservations, and the Department of the Army Suggestion Award for in-transit fumigation of foodstuffs. His military honors include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), National Defense Service Medal (1OLC), Vietnam Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Army Aviator Badge. He retired as a colonel after 25 years of service in September 1980. Afterward, he joined the Nevada Department of Agriculture as an epidemiologist. His major focus at the time was assisting in the eradication of bovine brucellosis in Nevada. He worked with animal control personnel and animal shelters in organizing a state dog bite prevention program. He was elected to the AVMA Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine and served as the AVMA liaison to the U.S. Animal Health Association. Anderson also served as executive vice president of the Nevada VMA from 1989 to 1992, during which time he worked with California VMA leadership to organize the Wild West Veterinary Conference held in Reno, Nev. Anderson served the AVMA staff for one year as the assistant director of membership and field services. He is survived by his wife, Anita; 1 daughter; 1 son; 3 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.